|
Yahoo!
November 11, 2002.
Cuba denies U.S. charges about diplomats ordered to leave United States
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. Fri Nov 8, 2:03 PM
ET
HAVANA - Fidel Castro's government on Friday rejected U.S. charges of
unacceptable activities by four Cuban diplomats ordered to leave the United
States and charged that American diplomats in Havana were involved in "subversive"
work.
The Foreign Ministry statement set the stage for the possible retaliatory
expulsion of American diplomats from Havana. "Cuba has the right to
respond, and will, at the appropriate moment," it said.
"Cuba totally rejects these fallacies and shameful accusations against
its diplomats," said the statement. It said the U.S. government "doesn't
have the least bit of moral authority, nor any justification to propose these
assertions against our diplomats."
At the same time, it said Cuba had "sufficient and documented proof of
the subversive ... and counterrevolutionary labor ... realized by functionaries
of the United States Interests Section in Havana."
It went on to warn that "we can present broad evidence of the
activities of constant espionage and subversion against Cuba."
Citing unacceptable activities, the U.S. State Department on Tuesday ordered
the expulsion of two Washington-based Cuban diplomats for their role in support
of a spy for Cuba who recently was sentenced to a 25-year prison term.
In a separate action, two members of Cuba's mission to the United Nations
were asked to leave the country for "engaging in activities deemed to be
harmful to the United States."
U.S. State Department spokesman Frederick Jones said in Washington earlier
this week that two first secretaries of Cuba's diplomatic mission in Washington,
Oscar Redondo Toledo and Gustavo Machin Gomez, were declared "persona non
grata" Tuesday and ordered to leave the country in 10 days.
Jones said Redondo and Machin were linked to the case of Ana Belen Montes,
an employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency who spied for Cuba for years
because, she said, she was outraged by American policies toward Cuba.
As for the New York-based Cubans, Jones said that they acted outside their
official capacity as members of the Cuban mission to the United Nations.
Two U.N.-based Cuban diplomats being ordered out of the country by the State
Department were later identified as Francisco Gonzalez Garcia, a counselor, and
Carlos Augusto Suanes Flexas, a second secretary.
Havana blamed the action against its diplomats on Cuban-born U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Otto Reich, and what it said was his "obsession to put
the brakes on the unstoppable advance of forces in the United States against the
policy of aggressions and attacks against Cuba."
Cuba remains undefeated in Intercontinental Cup, beating Japan 8-7
Mon Nov 11, 5:22 Am Et. By Luis R. Varela, Associated Press
Writer.
HAVANA - Barbaro Canizares hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning
to give Cuba an 8-7 win over Japan in the Intercontinental Cup on Sunday night.
The designated Cuban hitter homered off of left-handed relief pitcher
Shigetoshi Yamakita to end an emotional game at Havana's Latinoamericano stadium
in which the lead changed hands several times.
It was the second straight victory for Cuba in the tournament. Japan has one
win and one loss.
Eduardo Paret and Michael Enriquez homered in the 2nd inning when the Cubans
scored five runs.
The Japanese came back in the sixth with seven runs against three Cuban
pitchers. Japan's key hit was a grand slam home run by Katsuaki Furaki.
Cuba tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with the help of a throwing
error by Munenori Kawasaki,
Orelvis Avila, who took over in the sixth inning, pitched three scoreless
innings to secure the victory for the Japanese. | 
